At the end of a negotiation meeting there are a variety of small steps that can be completed to help make the next meeting more effective and move the parties toward closure. Identifying these steps, identifying deadlines, and designation responsibilities can all prevent pitfalls later on. These are steps that can be taken jointly or individually. Clarifying and committing to agenda items like timing and logistics, for example – the time and location of the next meeting – can create a placeholder for the negotiation that keeps momentum going. Agreeing on steps to communicate, inform, research, and consult – much of which is done away from the negotiating table – are also critical to many negotiations that require consensus – building. Parties might agree to prepare specific information for their next meeting, or look into a particular issue in more detail and report their findings for consideration prior to the next meeting.